At the beginning of 2020, the world experienced the global COVID-19 pandemic. Many of us got sick and lost family members, friends, or someone we once knew. All I saw on the news and social media was the daily death count, chaos, and the turmoil and panic of people everywhere. Daily life was disrupted, and all of a sudden, wearing a mask went from not recommended to mandatory for survival. I remember being scared and alone in my apartment.

My kitchen cabinet was stocked with boxes of mac and cheese, Jell-O powder mix, steel-cut oatmeal, and Triscuits. I was ready to survive the quarantine—however long it was going to be. I learned to use Zoom to connect with people and tried to feel calm, longing for ordinary days again. Forest Park was flooded with people trying to escape their houses and get their daily step counts while social distancing. Wearing a mask was unpleasant and suffocating when summer came. I never realized that toilet paper would become a hot commodity or that I could get so used to eating delivery food.

My graduate research was put on hold, and the timeline became absurd. I did not know when I could continue my experiments and complete my PhD. It felt meaningless to focus on my career or future. I had a panic attack—hopefully my first and last—late one night while working in the lab. It was one of those very long days that could be physically and mentally draining. I felt helpless, and it was scary. Right at that moment, my dad called to check up on me. I remember holding back my tears and telling him everything was fine. I self-diagnosed myself with depression and anxiety. I reached out to a psychologist and was on an SSRI for a few months, which ultimately did not help.

But on the bright side, I appreciated the downtime during quarantine at the peak of the pandemic because I was burned out. It was a much-needed break, whether it was by my choice or not. I spent time alone reflecting on my life and felt gratitude for many things—especially for being alive. It was a relief and validating to read or listen to other people's mental struggles. I learned to develop daily routines, take daily supplements, and find remedies to maintain my mental health. I began keeping a gratitude journal and taking actions with clear intentions. I reformed my attitude toward positivity and became more forgiving of myself. Around this time, I met the love of my life, who I later married.

I believe everything ultimately aligns in this universe, even when adversities seem to be the only thing occurring. We just need to be present, keep progressing, and pause when we need to. Just do not stop. Life is too short to dwell on obstacles. Whether good or bad, life goes on.